Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- There's a growing movement to "unplug" kids from electronic media and entertainment, and parents of all kinds are getting on board. Their reasons for keeping their children media-free are as varied as the families who go this route.
Blogger Abi Colter O'Roarty writes on the Huffington Post that keeping her young children away from TV and movies began when they followed a recommendation from the American Association of Pediatrics that children under the age of 2 not be exposed to TV. O'Roarty asserts that she and her husband are far from the new-age type of parents this activity is typically associated with. "(We) are not exactly media-pure. In fact, we live and die by a DVR recorder to get a little HBO or news at the end of most every day."
What they discovered when they kept their 1- and 4-and-a-half-year-old away from electronic entertainment was enough to motivate them to stick with it -- at least for now. Among the benefits O'Roarty has seen in her children: An unbelievable imagination, lots of help from little hands, protection of their innocence, lack of need to be entertained, and an incredible attention span for stories, books and car rides.
Other proponents are more pointed in their reasons behind the media separation. Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups, parents and individuals devoted to limiting the impact of commercial culture on children. The organization provides ways to get involved, including being a political advocate for the cause.
But parents seem to take a simpler approach: Most just want their children to experience life themselves, not through a glass screen. Websites run by parents like UnplugYourKids.com and KidsUnplugged.org inspire like-minded parents with activities, projects and support to help their kids stay media-free.
If you want to try this in your family, check out this list of 7 tips for getting your children unplugged from LovingYourChild.com or get a wide range of advice and support from UnpluggedMom.com.
Not ready to give up media forever? Blogger Russ Neumeier reserves unplugging his children as a consequence for certain behaviors the kids need to work on. As he explains on Geek Dad on Wired.com, "We reserve getting unplugged for a couple things: not turning in schoolwork and a growing consistency in neglecting their household chores. When the kids ask why they are being unplugged, we explain that if they are failing to turn in homework or do their chores, then we want to make sure they have time to get those things done. Without gaming, the computer and TV they now have lots of time to do what they need to do." Being unplugged lasts anywhere from a few days to a week, Neumeier says.
Whatever you choose to do, be sure you have the interests of your children at heart. This approach doesn't work for all families, many of whom often spend time together curled up in front of the latest Disney movie. But if you're looking for a change, you may want to give some of these approaches a try.
Email: lmaxfield@ksl.com
